Helping Young People Help Themselves

Shana Runck is being honored as a Latino Educator Champion of Change.

Over the course of my career, I would have never expected that my hard work and dedication to giving back to the community would lead me to being named a White House Champion of Change. As a New Mexico native and long-time educator, I have always had a passion to help at-risk Latino youth and to provide them with skills necessary for a successful transition into college and future employment. I am honored that I’ve been given an opportunity to make a difference in my local community, and I am grateful to receive this national recognition on behalf of New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union for the programs we have worked so hard to develop.

One of the main programs I’m involved with, Running Start for Careers, allows high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to earn dual-credit hours toward graduation while gaining valuable work skills and on-the-job training. The course focuses on careers in the financial services industry from tellers and loan officers to marketing and human resources. Students who complete the course have the opportunity to interview for an internship at the Credit Union, where they can earn high school and college credit, an hourly paid wage, and a valuable work experience in a career they are passionate about. 

I also helped create the financial capabilities program at New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union.  Educational institutions, business, and non-profits utilize the program to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage their finances. The financial capabilities program is scalable to provide an 18-module curriculum, individual financial workshops, and topic-specific training, and it is the only model aligned with New Mexico’s Common Core State Standards. I work closely with each of our partner institutions to adapt the curriculum to reflect their particular goals, ensuring that we provide an effective resource for our partners.

It is a rewarding to know that my work within the local community has inspired students to pursue education and job training in fields that interest them and to learn foundational financial skills. In a state with high poverty rates, low youth employment, and high student dropout rates, I am grateful that New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union has given me a platform to make a difference in increasing high school graduation rates among Latino youth and providing them with employment opportunities. It is an honor to be named a White House Champion of Change among other inspiring individuals from all across this great nation. 

Shana Runck is the Assistant Vice President of Community Relations and Financial Capabilities with New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque, New Mexico.